Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei urged Central American and other Latin American countries to implement a joint plan against illicit drug trafficking. More specifically, he referred to taking action against Venezuela, a distribution point for most drugs, much of which end up in the United States, President Giammattei said. “Drug trafficking [ … ]
Transnational Threats
Paraguay, US Capture Leader of International Money Laundering Network
On August 24, the Paraguayan and U.S. governments carried out a coordinated action against the money laundering network of Kassem Mohamad Hijazi, a Brazilian citizen of Lebanese descent involved in funding Hezbollah terrorism. In response to a U.S. extradition request, teams of the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) [ … ]
Colombia Captures Alias Camilo 40, Leader of Los Contadores
The Colombian Army, in coordination with the Office of the Attorney General, arrested Mario Mauricio Morán, alias Camilo 40, head of the criminal group Los Contadores, a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, in Spanish). Authorities made the capture in Valle del Cauca, on September 3, [ … ]
Paraguayan Authorities Conduct Record Cocaine Seizure
In late July, the Paraguayan National Police made the largest cocaine seizure in the South American country with the discovery of more than 3 tons of the drug in the Asunción Metropolitan Area, the state-run news outlet Agencia de Información Paraguaya said in a statement. Authorities seized a total of [ … ]
Colombia-Venezuela Border has the Largest Concentration of Coca Crops
Colombia has the largest area of coca crops in the world, with 143,000 hectares cultivated forthe main raw material for cocaine production. Of the 20 Colombian states where illicit crops have been identified, Norte de Santander, bordering Venezuela, has the largest cultivated area, about 40,000 hectares. These figures appear in [ … ]
Colombian Navy Seizes 4.3 Tons of Drugs
In early August, the Colombian Navy dealt another harsh blow to narcotrafficking in the Pacific coast of Colombia with the seizure of more than 4.3 tons of drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, as well as a Self Propelled Semi Submersible (SPSS) and four speedboats. Units of the Pacific Naval Force [ … ]
Iran Increases Presence in Latin America in Alliance with Organized Crime
Iran has expanded its influence in Latin America with a double threat: extremist ideology and alliance with criminal groups. According to analysts, Tehran conducts illicit business with Venezuela, supports the expansion of the terrorist group Hezbollah into the region, and benefits from illegal mining. “Organized crime is a fundamental piece [ … ]
FNAMP Combats Cybercrime Increase in Honduras
The pandemic triggered a massive shift toward digital transactions around the world, presenting opportunities and challenges for users and companies of all sizes. In Honduras, for example, digital banking has opened the door to a new payment and consumption style. Experts estimate that seven out of 10 banking services are [ … ]
Daniel Ortega Increases Repression to Ensure Reelection
As the date approaches for Nicaragua’s presidential elections, scheduled for November 7, 2021, the Daniel Ortega regime is intensifying the persecution of opponents, the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in an August 5 statement. “Starting in early June, Nicaraguan authorities have arbitrarily detained and opened seemingly politically [ … ]
Iran Looks for Partners in Latin America
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with Sacha Llorenti Soliz, a Bolivian and the executive secretary for the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA, in Spanish), on August 4, 2021, the Iranian government announced. Several human rights groups targeted Raisi for his involvement in the executions of thousands [ … ]
Panama Seizes 5.7 Tons of Cocaine in Naval Operations
The Panamanian National Air and Naval Service (SENAN, in Spanish), in coordination with the Panamanian Regional Center for Aeronaval Operations (CROAN, in Spanish), seized 5,707 kilograms of cocaine in five maritime operations, July 27-August 7, 2021. SENAN reported the seizure of 200 kg of cocaine during an interdiction operation in [ … ]
Argentina Seizes 8.7 Tons of Marijuana
Argentina’s National Gendarmerie (GNA, in Spanish), Naval Prefecture (PNA, in Spanish), and Federal Police (PFA, in Spanish) seized 8,748 kilograms of marijuana in the border provinces of Formosa, Misiones, and Corrientes, in seven operations carried out between July 20 and August 10, 2021. On August 10, the PNA reported the [ … ]